Textile spinning and analogous machinery



J. .1. HAYTHCRNTHWAITE 2,656,989

TEXTILE SPINNING AND ANALOGOUS MACHINERY Oct. 27, 1953 Filed May 2. i950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 U Em Oct. '27, 1953 J. J. HAYTHORNTHWAITE 2,656,939

TEXTILE SPINNING AND ANALOGOUS MACHINERY Filed May 2, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 06L 1953 J. J. HAYTHORNTHWAITE 2,

TEXTILE SPINNING AND ANALOGOUS MACHINERY Filed May 2, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 27, 1953 J. J. HAYTHORNTHWAITE 2,555,989

TEXTILE SPINNING AND ANALOGOUS MACHINERY 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 2, 1950 r 1953 J. J. HAYTHORNTHWAITE 2,

TEXTILE SPINNITJG AND ANALOGOUS MACHINERY 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 2, 1950 Patented Oct. 27, 1953 TEXTILE SPINNING AND ANALOGOUS MACHINERY James England, assignor Bullough Limited,

Jackson Haythornthwaite, Accrington, of one-half to Howard and Accrington, England Application May 2, 1950, Serial No. 159,453 In Great Britain May 11, 1949 14 Claims. 1

The invention has reference to the packagebuilding mechanism of a textile spinning, doubling or twisting machine of the type wherein the element, the reciprocatory movement of which results in the formation of the packages of yarn, thread or the like on the spindles, derives its rectilinear movement from a lifter shaft to which the package-building mechanism imparts oscillatory motion for the chase traverse and which may be rotated continuously to raise or lower said element independently of the package-building mechanism for the purpose of dofling or donning the bobbins or the like. For the purpose of this invention it is immaterial whether the reciprocatory element be the member carrying the yarn packages, e. g. the spindle rail 01; a ring frame, or the member which delivers the yarn or thread to the packages, e. g. the ring rail of a ring frame.

The object of the invention is to provide in a machine of such type an improved form of package-building mechanism possessing, amongst certain advantages which will be evident from the following, description, the adaptability for use in producing any desired form of package, e. g. cop build, or roving build or a combination of both, with a minimum of adjustment or alteration of its component parts.

In a textile spinning, doubling or twisting machine of the aforesaid type according to the invention, the lifter shaft of the package-building mechanism is actuated through the medium of an epicyclic gear of which the bodily fixed wheel or sun-wheel which rotates about a fixed axis is oscillated to effect the chase traverse of the reciprocatory element, and of which the planet wheel carrier receives a secondary drive of a unidirectional step-by-step character whereby the datum point of the sun-wheels oscillations is progressively adjusted, another feature of the mechanism consisting of means effective to vary the amplitude of the oscillations of the sun-wheel in accordance with the desired shape of the yarnpackage.

The invention may also provide in association with the package-building mechanism means effective to interrupt the oscillatory motion of the lifter shaft and to substitute a continuous rotary motion thereof for the purpose of moving the reciprocatory element directly to either the upp r or lower dofling positions (as hereinafter defined) or to any given position intermediate the same.

Another feature of the invention is an arrangement whereby, at the commencement of the spinning operation on a fresh yarn package and before the formation of the package proper is :begun, the oscillation of the sun-wheel is modified so that the spindle-rails (or ring rails) are reciprocated rapidly with a short movement to produce a weft cop bunch for use in known manner in connection with the weft-changin mechanism on an automatic loom.

The manner in which the invention may be carried into effect will be more readily understood from the following description of the application of the invention to a double-sided ring spinning machine in which the build of the yarn packages is achieved by using stationary ring rails and vertically reciprocated spindle rails, and in which automatic dofllng and donning mecha nisms according to United States Patent No. 2,582,696 and United States patent application No. 197,162 are provided. A pictorial representation of the headstock end of such machine is contained in Fig. 1 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the dofiing shaft and the parts of the mechanism associated therewith; Fig. 3 of the drawings illustrates the movement of the spindle rails during the cycle of operations of the machine when producing weft copy packages. Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views drawn on a larger scale than Fig. 1, respectively, showing the parts of the headstock mechanism which are (a) within the end compartment outside the partition I and (b) within the compartment enclosed between the partitions I and 2. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the structural connection between the spindle rail 4 and the lifter shaft 5. Fig. 7 is a diagram of the electric circuit for auto matically operating the controls referred to in the following description.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the headstock mechanism is contained within three compartments separated by partitions I and 2. The entire headstock is enclosed by a casing (not shown) fitting over said partitions, the endmost compartment being accessible through an end door; the third compartment, which encloses the change-speed gears for the spindle-and-roller driving mechanism, is separated from the machine itself by a partition 3. One of the spindle rails is indicated at 4; said rails 4 may be suspended by chains 4a passing over sprockets 4b on a pair of rotatably mounted lifter shafts 5 extending longitudinally throughout the machine. said two shafts being suitably geared together so that both spindle rails are raised and lowered in unison. One of said lifter shafts 5 is driven by o the building motion; this shaft is furnished with an extension to projecting through the partitions 3 and 2. The reference numeral 6 indicates the shaft employed to transmit driving motion to the spindles and the drafting rollers, said shaft 6 being driven through the change-speed geartrain 1, 8, 3, Hi, H, l2 by the electric motor 53.

The formation of the yarn packages requires that the lifter shaft extension a shall be oscillated during the winding of the yarn upon the spindle to produce the required chase traverse, whilst the dofiing and donning operations require that the shaft 5a shall be rotated through a sufficient arc of revolution to effect a comparatively rapid movement of the spindle rails from the 7 final spinning position to the upper doffing position, or between the upper and lower cloning positions, or from the upper do-ffing position to the starting position. (By up-per doffing position is meant the position of the spindle rails in which the spindles project upwardly through the rings to their maximum extent, wherein the yarn packages are most accessible for manual doffmg or appropriately located for cooperating with automatic doffing apparatus such as that which forms the subject of United States Patent No. 2,582,696.) The upper doffing position coincides with the donning position, i. e. in which the empty spindles receive the fresh bobbins or the like in accordance with the invention described United States patent application No. 197,162. By lower doffing position is meant the position of the spindle rails in which the spindles are entirely withdrawn from the rings so that the yarn packages detached from the spindles in the manner employed in said automatic dofiing apparatus may be removed laterally preparatory to the ensuing donning stage. By "starting position, is meant the position occupied by the spindle rails when spinning is resumed upon a fresh set of bobbins or the like. By final spinning position is meant the position occupied by the spindle rails when the yarn package formation has been completed. The oscillatory and rotary motions referred to are imparted through two separate mechanisms, the mechanism for effecting the oscillatory motion being associated with automatic means whereby the amplitude of successive oscillations is appropriately modified to suit the changes required by the building of various types of yarn package.

The mechanism for the oscillatory motion of the lifter shaft extension 5a comprises a constantly rotating heart-shaped cam M which is fixed on a shaft l5 driven through the wormwheel [6 and worm if by a cross-shaft IS. The shaft i8 is driven through a gear train 19, 2D, 2! and 22, by a motor 23, the wheels I9 and 29 being easily accessible for replacement by wheels producing a different gear-ratio if desired. Cooperating with the peripheral face of the cam M is a bowl or cam-follower 24 which is revolubly mounted on a lever 25 (hereinafter termed the builder motion lever) pivoted at 26. The lever 25 is connected with the lifter shaft extension 511 by means of a transmission chain 21 of which one end is wound about a pulley 28 on a shaft 29 geared to the shaft 5a through the medium of the interposed epicyclic gear-unit hereinafter referred to, whilst the other end of said chain N is attached to a movable anchorage on the builder motion lever 25. Such anchorage is constituted by a roller 3i carried in the end of a link 3| at the end of the chain 21 and constrained d to bear against the arcuate face 32 on the underside of said lever 25.

The arrangement is such that the rotation of the heart-shaped cam I l between the positions at which the cam-follower 24 is respectively in contact with the cam recess [to and the cam nose [4a depresses the builder motion lever 25 and imparts through the chain 21 apart revolution to the lifter shaft 5 whereby the spindle rails 4 are raised from the bottom of their chase to the top thereof. The return in the opposite direction is either effected by the spindle rails sinking under their own weight, or by the use of a two-way driving connection between the lifter shafts 5i and the spindle rails 4, as described in United States patent application Serial No. 130,684, now Patent No. 2,625,049.

The angle through which the lifter shaft 5a is oscillated is modified for the purpose hereinbefore referred to by varying the amplitude of the pull exerted by the builder motion lever 25 on the aforesaid traverse chain 2i; this result is achieved by moving towards or away from the fulcrum 28 of said lever 25 the aforesaid movable anchorage 39 of the traverse chain thereon, thus varying the effective length of the arm of the builder motion lever 25. The adjustment of said anchorage point is brought about through the medium of a second chain 33 (called the build control chain) which is attached at one end to the end of the link 3 i, said build control chain 33 passing over a cam-shaped pulley 34 (called the build control cam) which is mounted on a shaft 35 and arranged to be intermittently rotated through the worm-wheel 36, the worm 31 and the vertical shaft 38 (called the dofiing shaft), the skew gears 39 and 40, and the shaft 4|, by a ratchet wheel 42 fixed on the shaft ll. The skew gear 39 is part of a sleeve 43 loose on the doffing shaft 38 and which carries a single clutch-member M adapted to be engaged by a double clutch-member 15 which is splined on the shaft 38. The other end of the build control chain 33 is attached to another pulley 56 (called the lift control pulley) for the purpose hereinafter described. The pawl ll, which cooperates with said ratchet wheel 42 is carried by a lever 48 oscillated through a link is by a crank 50 which is driven continuously by the heartcam shaft l5, and the arrangement is such that variations in the position of the build control earn 3 3 in relation to the build control chain 33, effected through the aforesaid pawl and ratchet mechanism 41, 42, alter the effective length of the build control chain 33 and thereby shift the movable anchorage 30 of the traverse chain 21 respectively away from or towards the pivot 26 of the builder motion lever 25. The cloning shaft 38 is conveniently made in two sections coupled together as shown, the torque connection between them being provided by a shear-pin 38a designed to fracture if subjected to an excessive load.

The length of the build control chain 33 may also be regulated for the purpose of effecting initial setting adjustments by rotating the lift control pulley 46, preferably by manually operated worm gearing enclosed in the gear-box 5| and arranged to be actuated by a person in possession of a key which will fit the square end of the shaft 52. This mechanism provides additional means for altering the position of the movable anchorage 3!! on the builder motion lever 25 so as to vary the amplitude of the oscillatory motion of the spindle rails 4.

Th bui control chain 33 is maintained taut by a we ht 53 us nd d b a chaic o e a nu oy h h is fixed on a sha 56 arr n a pulley 5'! connected by a chain 58 (called the enso h n o e sa d mov bl anchor e 3B in such fashion as to tendto draw it in the direction opposite to the pull exerted thereon by the build control chain 33.

It is important that the build control chain, 33 should be led, in its connection to the anchorage 30 on the builder motion lever 25, about a pulley 59 or like guide which is arranged in a position such that the poi at Which the chain 33 leaves said pulley 59 coincides as nearly as possible with the axis of the pivot 26, thus ensuring that the oscillation of the builder motion lever 25 does not affect the tension of the build control chain 33.

It is also important that when the heart-cam nose Ida. is against the cam=fol1ower 24 the locus of the movable anchorage 30 on the buildermction lever 25 (i. e, the face 32) should be an are truly radial to the point at which the traverse chain 21 makes contact with the first guide pulley 6Q over which said chain 21 is passed, ensuring that the adjustment of the movable anchorage 30 affects neither the tension of the traverse chain 21 nor the top position of the spindle rail 4 at any traverse.

The aforesaid epicyclic gear-unit, which is interposed between the shaft 29 and the lifter shaft 5a, comprises a sun-wheel 6| fixed on the shaft 29, a planet-wheel 52 meshing with said sun-wheel BI, a pinion 63 fast with the planetwheel 62 and a spur wheel .64 which is fixed on the shaft 5a, meshing with the pinion 63. The planet wheel 62 is supported on a carrier 65 which is loose on the shaft 5a. The carrier 65 bears on its periphery a gear se mental; which is geared to a pinion 61 on the shaft 35 through a gear-train 68, 69.

The top position of the spindle rail at each traverse, or the point at which each successive traverse chase commences, is determined by the aforesaid pawl and ratchet mechanism 41, 42 acting to transmit through the members Ml, 38, 38, 31, 36, 35, 61, 68, B9 and 56 an intermittent rotary motion to the planet wheel carrier 65 of the e picyclic gear unit, and thence to the lifter shaft 5, whereby the point at which successive reciprocations of the spindle rails 4 commence is caused steadily to fall. As the traverse oscillations of the lifter shaft 511 proceed, the build control cam 34 operates to vary the length of successive traverses as required and the gradual adjustment requisite to produce the desired formation of the yarn packages on the spindles is achieved. The desired shape of the yarn a ka es will e erned b he sha e o the cam 34, and the arrangement is such that any appropriately shaped build control cam may be substituted according to requirements,

Aligned with the dofiing shaft 38 is a Short shaft 10 on which is fixed a single clutch-mem ber ll adapted to be engaged by the double clutch-member 45 when the latter is shifted downwardly out of engagement with the single clutch-member 44 which i associated with the ratchet-driven skew-gear 39. Said clutchememe ber H bears a cam "which on rotation of the shaft 10 impinges against abutment I; car-. ried by one arm M of a bell-crank lever [4,, 15. the other m. o whi h is c nnec ed to the double-clutch member 4 5, the arrangement being such that the lever 14, T5 is automatically tripped to disen a e t e clutch .5 (and therefo e the shaft 38) from t e cl tch 44 o th Sho sca sleeve 43 and to engage it with the member 1|. Sa d sh f 0 is gea e th ou h a orm-whe 5 and worm th a sh ft 18 h ch is o mod to th shaft 19 f a el c i mot r 8. (called the dofling motor). A handle 81 is provided on the arm 15 of the clutch-shifting lever M, 75 for the manual operation thereof, A cam 82 on said lever 14, 15 cooperates with a pr ng-press d p un r 8 i suc ashi n a always to ensure thepositive engagement of the clutchemember 45 with either the clutch H or he clutch l The oscillatory motion of the lifter shaft 5a, due to the operation of the heart-shaped traverse cam H, and themodifled motion imposed on said shaft So by the build control cam 34 is interrupted when the formation of the yarn packages is completed or for any other reason it is desired to efieqt a rapid movement of the spindle rails 4 between the upper and lower dofiing positions, or in any given section of such range of movement.

Th ma hine incorporates a number of moh n c l t pw t h s A B, C, .D. E F nd a master control switch H, a manual bunching motion switch BM and a time-relay switch '1, whereby the circuits of the several electric motor driving the various component mechanisms are controlled in the manner hereinafter described, The shaft 35 carries two cycle plates 84 and 85, respectively provided with adjustable detents 86 and 81; the. detent 86 cooperates with a trip-switch A which controls the circuit of the doffing motor 89, whilst the detent 81 is arranged to actuate a trip-switch B in the circuit of the heartam motor 23. T e heart-cam shaft l5 carries two cycle plates 88 and 89, respectively provided with adjustable detents 90 and 9|; the detent 90 and 9| respectively cooperate with the trip-switches C and D which control the circul of h h ar -cam m t r 23 in suchfashion that when alternately closed they stop and restart said motor 23 in the reverse direction. The

switch I) also serves to stop the heart-cam m0- tor 23 before the. Spindle rails are raised for cloning and ensures that the heart-cam [4 remains with its nose Na in contact with the camfollower 24. The trip-switch E is associated with the circuits of the spindle-and-roller driving motor [3 and the heartecam motor 23, and is adapted to cooperate with the clutch handle 8| in such manner as to. ensure that said motors l3 and 23 cannot be reestarted when the pawland-ratchet mechanism is disengaged. A. tripswitch E, included in the circuit of the dofiin oto t, a uated by a p .91 on th p dl rail s ch mann r a to stop th n l -andoll r mo or 13 nd the do fine motor when h spin r ls 4 ach th upp r dofli s ti n A t ip-sw ch. G, c n rolling the do fine motor circuit when the spindle rails are being returned by the motor 80 to the lowerdoillng position, is actuated by a peg 83 on the spindle rail when the rails reach the lowermost position. The master control switch H is provided for selecting and closing the several'motor circuits ap propriate to the respective operations of the machine. Said switch H may be set by hand, as in t uin s r pt n f e mac i cyc e. or y a matic mea i d ired .The bunch-v s p atio he einaf er refer ed to is controlled y a ma ual s i ch, BM her inafter alled the. bunching-motion switch) and a time-relay switch, both of which are included in the control circuit diagram illustrated in Fig. '7.

The sequence of operations of the machine is as follows:

The cycle commences with the spindle rails in the starting position indicated in Fig. 3 by the reference P. Fresh bobbins have been placed on the spindles and the severed ends of yarn applied to the bobbins, either manually or by the automatic means described in the copending patent application No. 31,973/1949, in readiness for spinning. The switch H is set to the position I, and the clutch handle 3| is raised to couple the pawl and ratchet mechanism 52, All to the shaft 38. This action completes the starting relay, comprising the contactors SRO) and SRO), closing the contact SRH) and opening In addition the main contactor M and the contactor HF which control the forward direction of rotation of the heart cam M are energized thereby starting the spindle and roller motor l3 and the heart cam motor The auxiliary contacts M( I) and M(2) are also closed to complete the holding-in circuit. The spinning operation now commences, winding yarn upon the empty bobbins. (The previous doffing and donning operations having been performed with the nose Ma of the cam [4 in contact with the cam-follower 24 ensures that the spindle rails will commence their downward movement from the position P and correctly initiate the build of the yarn packages simultaneously with the commencement of the spinning o eration.)

When producing roving build packages, spinning is commenced with the movable allchorage 33 at a point remote from the fulcrum 26, such that the first traverse of the yarn extends over the full length of the required package. As the formation of the package proceeds, said anchorage 3% is steadily drawn towards the fulcrum point 26 so as steadily to reduce the length of the traverse. This can be accomplished either by using a build control cam 34 of circular form and attaching the end of the chain 33 thereto, so that the chain is wound around said cam 34, or merely by using a cam. of a shape which will bring about the required steady retraction of the anchorage 3B.

To provide eft cops with bunches for use in conjunction with the weft-changing mechanism of an automatic weaving loom, the spindle rails are reciprocated rapidly with a short movement. This operation may be performed at any desired point within the first chase. For this purpose, the bunching motion switch BM has been turned to the on position before the.

machine is started. During the rotation of the heart camshaft I5, the detent 9| on the cycle plate 89 opens the limit switch D. The contactor HF is thus de-energized and the contactor HR, which controls the reverse direction of rotation of the heart cam is energized. The direction of rotation of the heart cam is thus reversed until the detent 90 on the cycle plate 88 opens the limit switch C (which is shown in Fig. 7 by switches Cl and C2 which operate together) which de-energize HR and energizes HFTr. In

this manner the heart cam motor 23 is repeated-- ly stopped, reversed and re-started, after a short movement of the spindle rails in alternate directions, producing upon each bobbin a bunch of yarn, due to the repeated winding of turns of yarn upon the same part of the bobbin.

The duration of the bunching operation is determined by the time controlled relay T which,

when the bunch has attained the desired thickness, operates to open the contact T(l) and close the contacts T(2) and T(3), thus cutting out the limit switch D and allowing the heart cam to run forward through the HF circuit, and permitting the formation of the yarn packages to proceed normally. When bunches are not required, the bunching motion switch is turned to the off position before the spinning operation is commenced.

The successive vertical movements of the spindle rails throughout the formation of the yarn packages are indicated by the short vertical lines at the left-hand side of Fig. 3, the length of each such line corresponding to the length of the chase traverse. When the yarn package formation is complete, the spindle rails arrive at the position Q (Fig. 3). The setting upon the cycle plate 85 of the detent 8? is such that the plate 85 has been slowly brought by the pawl and ratchet mechanism 42, 41 to the position in which the detent 8'! opens the limit switch B simultaneously with the arrival of the spindle rails at position Q. At or about the same time, as the camshaft revolves, the limit switch C is opened by the detent 96 on the cycle plate 88 which rotates with the heart camshaft I5. The operation of switch C de-energizes the starting relay SR, which opens the auxiliary contact SRM), stops the heart cam motor through HF and closes the auxiliary contact SR.(2), stops the heart cam motor through HF and closes the auxiliary contact SEQ) This completes the circuit for the operation of doffing up and the doffing motor 8! is started. At the same time, the auxiliary contact DD(I) has been automatically opened to ensure that the dofi down circuit is inoperative. During the formation of the yarn packages, the repeated opening of the switch 0 at each revolution of the shaft 15 has been ineffective, owing to the fact that the switch B has been closed. The setting of the detent 9i! on the cycle plate 88 is such as to stop the motor 23 with the cam nose I ia in contact with the cam follower 24 for the reason already referred to.

The doi'hng motor being started, the shaft 76 rotates and through the inter-engagement of the member I2 and 13, the clutch 45 is thrown to uncouple the pawl and ratchet mechanism and couple the shaft 10 to the doifing shaft 38. The clutch lever 8| is simultaneously lowered; this actuate the switch E (which is shown in Fig. 7 by switches El, E2 and E3 which operate together) and serves to ensure that when the doffing cycle has been completed, the motors l3 and 28 cannot be re-started until the lever BI is again raised and the pawl and ratchet mechanism re-engaged.

The shaft 38 is now continuously driven to raise the spindle rails rapidly from position Q to the upper doffing position R, the spindle and roller motor I3 remaining in operation.

When the spindle rails reach position R, the impingement of the peg $2 on the limit switch F opens said switch F and breaks the circuit to the operating coils of the dofi-up contactor DUV the main contactor M, the contactor I-IF (heart cam forward), the starting relay SR, and the contactor HR (heart cam reverse). As DU is deenergized, the auxiliary contact DUN) is closed. At this stage, themotors l3 and iii! are stopped and the entire machine is at rest.

The switch H is next set to the position II.

The doff down contactor DD is thus energized and the dofiing motor 80 starts in the reverse directionto lower the spindle railsrapidly to the lower dofiing position S, where the peg 93 actuates the limit switch G (which is shown. in Fig. by the switches G1 and G2 which operate together, i. e. as GI is opened and G2 is closed and vice versa). In addition, DD is de-energized and the control relay AR is operated, opening the auxiliary contact AR (2 and closing the auxiliary contacts AR/(l) and AR(3). These actions stop the darling motor 80 and closure of the switch AR( l ensures that AR is energized when the limit switch G is actuated as the spindle rails, rise in the next operation. Duringthis dofi down stage, the spindles have been with; rawn from the intercepted bobbins so that the latter are free to be doffed. When anew set of empty .bobbin has been placed ready for donning, the switch H is set to the position III. The doif-up contactor DU is energized and the doning motor 80 is re-started so that the spindle rails are raisedto insert the spindles into the bobbins; this movement is terminated whefithe limit switchll' is again opened by the peg 92 to stop the dofflng motor 80 at the positionT (Fig-3).. a

The switch isnext adjusted to the reset? position IV, starting the motor 80 and lowering the spindle rails to the position P when the actuation of the limit switch A (shownin Fig. 7 by switches Al and AZ which operate together) by the detent 86 on the cycle plate 84 de-energizes DD and stops the motor 80. At this time, the closure of the limit switch illuminates the signal light SL to show that the cycle of operation is complete. M U w The switch H is moved again to position I and the clutch handle. ilLis raised by hand to declutch the shaft 1p and recouple the pawl and ratchet mechanism to the shaft 38, the machine then being readytojcommence spinning upon the new bobbins; m gent of raising the clutch handle operates the limit switches Elh E2 and E3. The switch E3 opens tode-energi ze AR, and Cut out the signal lamp, Whilst the switch E2 opens the contactor DD to ensure thatthe' dofi down switch position is switch El closes, to complete the" start circuit tions is complete.

The auxiliary contacts HRH) and Ham are safety contacts to ensure that the reverse circuit of the heart cammotor cannot be in operation when the motor i operating through the forward circuit and vice versa; Similarly the auxiliary contacts SH) and 6(2) ensure that the main motors are isolated when the dofiing operation is. in.pr.ogressf. The over-current relays l/OCR, 2/OC R and, S/OCR, respectively control the spindles and roller motor, the heart motor and the doifing motor. These relays are normally closedbut in the event of an overload on the circuit wouldopen to isolate the motors. The normally closed pushjbuttonjmarked' S3 is. a stop button which may be operated by hand to stop the whole mac hine,

What I claim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patient is:

1; A textile spinning doubling ,or twisting machine comprising, and ring rails oneof 7 element movable up'and down relative to'the other, lifting mechanism for the reciprocatory element comprising a lifter shaft, an epicyclic. differential gearfconnectedj to drivefthe lifter,

in V combination, spindle shaft, and havingj two" driving members'.whose inputs are combined by it, theo'ne b ein'g'a" bodily inoperative. The" which is a reciprocatory.

fixed wheel and the other a planet wheel carrier, means for oscillating the bodily fixed wheel to effect the chase traverse of the reciprocatory element, means for imparting unidirectional travel to the planet wheel carrier, whereby the datum point of the bodily fixed wheels oscilla tions is progressively adjusted, and means to vary the amplitude of the oscillations of the bodily fixed wheel in accordance with the desired shape of the yarn package.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, in which means is provided for causing the lifter shaft oscillating mechanism to operate with a short, rapidly repeated stroke.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1, in which means is provided for automatically controlling the operation of the epicyclic differential gear in accordance with a predetermined cycle.

4. A textile spinning, doubling or twisting machine comprising, in combination, spindle and ring rails, one of which is a reciprocatory element movable up and down relative to the other, lifting mechanism for the reciprocatory element comprising a lifter shaft, an epicyclic differential gear connected to drive the lifter. shaft, and having two driving members, the one being a bodily fixed wheel and the other a planet wheel carrier, means for imparting to the bodily fixed wheel a degree of oscillatory motion proportional to the chase traverse length, means for varying the amplitude of such oscillatory m0- tion, and means to impart to the planet wheel carrier of the epicyclic gear a progressive intermittent rotary motion to vary the datum point of the oscillation of the bodily fixed wheel.

5. A textile spinning, doubling or twisting machine comprising, in combination, spindle and ring rails, one of which is a reciprocatory element movable up and down relative to the other, lifting mechanism for the reciprocatory element comprising a liftershaft, an epicyclic differential gear connected to drive the, lifter shaft, and having two driving memberswhoseinputs are combined by it, the one being a bodily fixed wheel and the other a planet Wheel carrier means for movable up and down relative to the other, lifting mechanism for the reciprocatory clement com prising a lifter shaft, an epicyclic differential gear connected to drive the lifter shaft, and having two driving members whose inputs are combined by it, the one being a bodily fixed wheel and the other a planet wheel carrier, means for oscillating the bodily fixed wheel to effect the chase traverse of the reciprocatory element, means for imparting unidirectional travel to the planet wheel carrier, whereby the datum point of the bodily fixed wheels oscillations is progressively adjusted, means to vary the amplitude of the oscillations of the bodily fixed wheel in accordance with the desired shape of the yarn package, the driving means for the bodily fixed wheel comprising an oscillatory lever, and means to vary the effective length of the lever for adjusting the length of the chase traverse.

8. A textile spinning, doubling or twisting inachine comprising, in combination, spindle and ring rails, one of which is a reciprocatory element movable up and down relative to the other, iif ting mechanism for the reciprocatory element comprising a lifter shaft, an epicyclic difierential gear connected to drive the lifter shaft, and having two driving members whose inputs are combined by it, the one being a bodily fixed wheel and the other a planet wheel carrier, means for oscillating the bodily fixed wheel to effect the chase traverse of the reciprocatory element, means for imparting unidirectional travel to the planet wheel carrier, whereby the datum point of the bodily fixed wheels oscillations is progressively adjusted, means to vary the amplitude of tle oscillations of the bodily fixed wheel in accordance with the desired shape of the yarn package, the driving means for the bodily fixed wheel comprising a shaft on which the bodily fixed wheel is made fast, a pulley fast on said shaft, a flexible member drivingly engaged with the pulley, an oscillatory lever, an anchorage on the lever to which one end of said flexible member is made fast, and means operable to shift the anchorage along the lever toward and from the pivot thereof to vary the effective length of the lever with respect to said flexible member.

9. A textile spinning, doubling or twisting machine comprising, in combination, spindle and ring rails, one of which is a reciprocatcry element movable up and down relative to the other, lifting mechanism for the reciprocatory element com prising a lifter shaft, an epicyclic differential gear connected to drive the lifter shaft, and having two driving members whose inputs are combined by it, the one being a bodily fixed wheel and the other a planet wheel carrier, means for oscillating the bodily fixed wheel to effect the chase traverse of the reciprocatory element, means for imparting unidirectional travel to the planet wheel carrier, whereby the datum point of the bodily fixed wheels oscillations is progressively V V. l2 c adjusted, means to vary the amplitude of the oscillations of the bodily fixed wheel in accordance with the desired shape of the yarn package, the driving means for the bodily fixed wheel comprising an oscillatory lever, means to vary the effective length of the lever for adjusting the length of the chase traverse, pawl and ratchet mechanism, means continuously driving the pawl and ratchet mechanism during the operation of said lever, and gearing transmitting the intermittent motion of the ratchet mechanism to the planet wheel carrier of the epicyclic gear.

10. A textile spinning, doubling or twisting machine comprising, in combination, spindle and ring rails, one of which is a reciprocatory element movable up and down relative to the other, lifting mechanism for the reciprocatory element comprising a lifter shaft, an epicyclic differential gear connected to drive the lifter shaft, and having two driving members whose inputs are combined by it, the one being a bodily fixed wheel and the other a planet wheel carrier, means for oscillating the bodily fixed wheel to effect the chase traverse of the reciprocatory element,

, means for imparting unidirectional travel to the planet wheel carrier, whereby the datum point of the bodily fixed wheels oscillations is progressively adjusted, means to vary the amplitude of the oscillations of the bodily fixed wheel in w '3 accordance with the desired shape of the yarn package, the driving means for the bodily fixed wheel comprising a shaft on which the bodily fixed wheel is made fast, a pulley fast on said shaft, a flexible member drivingly engaged with the pulley, an oscillatory lever, an anchorage on the lever to which one end of said flexible member is made fast, the lever having an arcuate face, and the anchorage including a roller which rides on said face, a second flexible member connected to the anchorage, and a cam engaged with said second flexible member to change the eifective length thereof, thereby to shift the position of the anchorage along the lever.

11. A textile spinning, doubling or twisting machine comprising, in combination, spindle and ring rails, one of which is a reciprocatory element movable up and down relative to the other, lifting mechanism for the reciprocatory element comprising a lifter shaft, an epicyclic differential *gear connected to drive the lifter shaft, and hav- 'traverse of the reciprocatory element, means for imparting unidirectional travel to the planet wheel carrier, whereby the datum point of the bodily fixed wheels oscillations is progressively adjusted, means to vary the amplitude of the oscillations of the bodily fixed wheel in accordance with the desired shape of the yarn package, the driving means for the bodily fixed wheel comprising a shaft on which the bodily fixed wheel is made fast, a pulley fast on said shaft, a flexible member drivingly engaged with the pulley, an oscillatory lever, an anchorage on the lever to which one end of said flexible member is made fast, the lever having an arcuate face, and the anchorage including a roller which rides on said face, a second flexible member connected to the anchorage, and a cam engaged with said second flexible member to change the effective length thereof, thereby to shift the position of the anchorage along the lever, and setting means 13 for adjusting the initial length of the second flexible connection.

12. A textile spinning, doubling or twisting machine comprising, in combination, spindle and ring rails, one of which is a reciprocatory element movable up and down relative to the other, lifting mechanism for the reciprocatory element comprising a lifter shaft, an epicyclic differential gear connected to drive the lifter shaft, and having two driving members whose inputs are combined by it, the one being a bodily fixed wheel and the other a planet wheel carrier, means for oscillating the bodily fixed wheel to effect the chase traverse of the reciprocatory element, means for imparting unidirectional travel to the planet wheel carrier, whereby the datum point of the bodily fixed wheels oscillations is progressively adjusted, means to vary the amplitude of the oscillations of the bodily fixed wheel in accordance with the desired shape of the yarn package, the driving means for the bodily fixed wheel comprising an oscillatory lever, a cam follower carried by the lever, a continuously driven cam shaft, a heart-shaped cam on said shaft engaged with the follower for operating the lever, and means connecting the lever to oscillate the bodily fixed wheel, the planet gear carrier operating means comprising pawl and ratchet mechanism, and crank and link mechanism operated by the cam shaft in synchronism with the heart-shaped cam and connected to the pawl and ratchet mechanism to actuate the latter.

13. A textile spinning, doubling or twisting machine comprising, in combination, spindle and ring rails, one of which is a reciprocatory element movable up and down relative to the other, lifting mechanism for the reciprocatory element comprising a lifter shaft, an epicyclic differential gear connected to drive the lifter shaft, and having two driving members whose inputs are combined by it, the one being a bodily fixed wheel and the other a planet wheel carrier, means for oscillating the bodily fixed wheel to effect the chase traverse of the reciprocatory element,

means for imparting unidirectional travel to the planet wheel carrier, whereby the datum point of the bodily fixed wheels oscillations is progressively adjusted, means to vary the amplitude of the oscillations of the bodily fixed wheel in accordance with the desired shape of the yarn package, the means for normally imparting unidirectional drive to the planet wheel carrier comprising pawl and ratchet mechanism, and a first rotary output member driven thereby, an alternative continuous rotary drive for the planet wheel carrier having a second rotary output member, a common transmission shaft for said two drives, a two-way clutch normally connecting the first rotary output member to the common transmission shaft, and means responsive to the starting of the alternative continuous rotary drive automatically to disconnect the first rotary output member from the common transmission shaft and to connect the second rotary output member to said common transmission shaft.

14. A textile spinning, doubling or twisting machine comprising, in combination, spindle and ring rails, one of which is a reciprocatory element movable up and down relative to the other, lifting mechanism for the reciprocatory element comprising a lifter shaft, an epicyclic differential gear connected to drive the lifter shaft, and having two driving members whose inputs are combined by it, the one being a bodily fixed wheel and the other a planet wheel carrier, means for oscillating the bodily fixed wheel to effect the chase traverse of the reciprocatory element, means for imparting unidirectional travel to the planet wheel carrier, whereby the datum point of the bodily fixed wheels oscillations is progressively adjusted, means to vary the amplitude of the oscillations of the bodily fixed wheel in accordance with the desired shape of the yarn package, an alternative continuous drive mechanism for the lifter shaft, separate electrical drives for the mechanisms respectively oscillating and continuously rotating the lifter shaft, and a master control switch, together with a set of automatic tripping switches, governing the selective operation of said drives.

JAMES JACKSON I-IAYIHORNTI-IWAI'IE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,075,286 Foster Oct. 7, 1913 1,535,036 Potter Apr. :21, 1925 1,946,699 Keyser Feb. 13, 1934 1,984,641 Hargreaves Dec. 18, 1934 2,364,819 Roddy Dec. 12, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,589 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1880 819,665 France July 12, 1937 

